Injury forces Zane to retire

RSC Anderlecht's Australian international striker Clayton Zane has been forced to retire by a persistent knee injury.

Limited impact
The tall 28-year-old forward moved to Belgium in 2002, joining Anderlecht from Norwegian outfit Lillestrøm SK, where he scored 18 goals in 29 league matches, as a replacement for the BV Borussia Dortmund-bound Jan Koller. However, a knee problem restricted him to only ten Belgian First Division appearances over three seasons, although he did manage two goals.

Happy memories
"After 18 months of recovery after surgery to replace the cartilage, I still have pain in my knee," Zane said. "But I still have good memories of my time in Belgium, as I met my wife Sarah here." The Australian, who scored six goals in 14 appearances for his country, has already started to study for a qualification in sports management. He began his career with Cessnock Hornets in his homeland, and after spells at Adamstown Rosebud, Newcastle United and Northern Spirit in Australia he moved to Europe, and Norway's Molde FK, in 2000 before switching to Lillestrøm a year later.